Middle School Program

The mixed-age class, with longer blocks of time for subject areas, projects, and personal reflection, fosters students to follow areas of personal interest and apply their unique abilities to a group experience. Large group work within the same curriculum or project area supports their need and ability to belong and collaborate constructively, with each person expected to contribute their best efforts. While they are given letter grades to support their transition to high school, the requirement and knowledge that they have done their best is the most important marker of success.

Daily community meetings run by the students, along with meaningful work, study, and age-appropriate responsibilities, promote the adolescent’s positive sense of belonging and the impact of personal choice on social functioning. Projects such as completing internships in the community and working on the MDS Yearbook are real world opportunities for lessons in science, math, language arts and practical living skills. Opportunities to work side-by-side with adults to address real community needs – whether environmental maintenance, volunteer work on and off site, or participating as attorneys and witnesses in our annual mock trial – validate the adolescent’s skills and contributions as they are connecting constructively with the world outside the classroom.